News and Media: Disaster 4827

More than a month after Helene made landfall, FEMA officials remain on the ground coordinating with local officials in affected states to help guide their recovery.

Since Hurricane Helene made landfall, FEMA has been working with governmental and voluntary disability support organizations to ensure survivors with disabilities have the tools they need to recover from the storm. Building relationships with these organizations pre-disaster has been crucial to getting support to survivors as quickly as possible. FEMA’s Disability Integration Advisors continue their work advocating for people with disabilities and connecting them with available resources to help speed their recovery.

Local governments, houses of worship and other nonprofit organizations in 39 North Carolina counties and tribal members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have until Jan 7, 2025, to submit Requests for Public Assistance (RPA) from FEMA. The RPA is the first step for public and private nonprofit organizations to apply for federal disaster assistance.

The Biden-Harris Administration has approved more than $1.2 billion in direct assistance to Hurricanes Helene and Milton survivors. These funds help survivors with housing repairs, personal property replacement and other essential recovery efforts. Additionally, over $1.1 billion has been approved for debris removal and emergency protective measures, which are necessary to save lives, protect public health and prevent further damage to public and private property.

FEMA is hiring Community Liaisons to support local communities affected by Tropical Storm Helene in North Carolina. FEMA Community Liaisons will work with storm-affected communities and serve as a community link between FEMA, state, and federal partners.